Advent Rising

The gameplay is like Halo, only better. Better story. Better characters. Better bad guys. Even the cliffhanger ending isn't bad. (Of course, having a sequel would be even better) But the bugs! Random crashes, especially on transitions. Starting a checkpoint stuck underneath an elevator. Starting a a checkpoint only being able to look straight up or straight down. Random crashes.

It's true. The game has bugs, and some of this are very annoying, but non of them change the fact that this is an incredible story by Orson Scott Card back with an extremely fun game play (sometimes simply a chaotic game play - dual wield bazuka...just saying) . I loved how I initially felt completely powerless, almost to the point I felt I couldn't even fight the enemy, and eventually they were like tiny insects compared to my godlike abilities. All this while still keeping the game fun to play and not too hard or easy. Some of the levels are not as good. A bit drawn out. But usually, right after those levels the game would turn things around with some epic battle (boarding the enemy ship on foot while escaping my destroyed vessel made me feel like some sort of a space pirate) or a fun new trick to throw at enemy. Being 11y/o, the graphics are nothing to write home about, but taking this into consideration, the visuals are beautiful, taking you from earth/earth-like vistas, to space (even with a tiny space simulator) and many very different space ships to entirely new worlds and places with an original design. If you love a good story and simply-fun game play, and can handle a few bugs, get the game. You'll love it.

It's a shame that they launched a good game like this with many glitches: 1. movement problems in the scene-phase transitions or when trying to move faster or when using several powers together. 2. the mouse stops to respond when we're shooting or using powers. 3. force field's power with problems with collision. 4. phases with problem with collision, what avoids us to pass to next phase. 5. problems when we are holding in the ledges. 6. unbalanced powers with some enemies: you beat a stronger one with one's power but this power cannot beat a weaker foe.

Advent Rising has one play as Gideon, a human pilot soon confronted with an invasion by aliens. Said aliens look strikingly similar to Halo's Covenant, complete with differently colored troops, and the story beats served in the first few hours clearly evoke Bungie's original from 2001 as well. That said, the gameplay is much simpler: you're dual-wielding whatever weapon you pick up, and clear room after room full of bad guys with auto-aim. To prolong combat, the developers like to spawn enemies in front, behind, and sometimes even on top of Gideon, without any animation or anything—they simply appear out of thin air. The mindless shooting is only interrupted by frequent cutscenes, which do a half-decent job at moving things forward, though by the end, the plot dries up completely, as though the developers ran out of time. Roughly a third into the game, Gideon is given what amounts to force powers, allowing him to shoot energy pulses or lift enemies, and from that point on, AR plays more like The Force Unleashed. In addition, one gets to pilot vehicles, whose controls and physics are abysmal. The way buggies bump around is almost comical, especially compared to Halo's Warthog, and the goofiness extends to Gideon's on-foot movement as well. All animations are way too fast, and even though Gideon eventually becomes a god, ground elevations are insurmountable for him, and require special attention by the player. The controls are a mess in general—for instance, when you lock onto an elevated enemy, the camera is centered in such a way that you can't actually see much of the target. Aside from being repetitive beyond belief, the main issue with AR is how buggy everything is. Crashes are frequent, though the game typically at least has the courtesy to save right before them, but this doesn't apply when you get stuck in a wall. When driving vehicles, the sound breaks, and shadows are simply not displayed. This game just screams amateur hour, and clearly is unfinished.

Though I have seen this game before in stores, it had never occurred to me that I might wish to play it, especially when viewing the back of the box which managed to make it sound incredibly boring. Having bought this here while it was cheap, boy was I ever surprised to find that this is actually one of the best games I have played in a good long time. Although I don't usually much like these sorts of action games, I must admit that I had a lot of fun here. The action is usually hectic, yet you are always in control. The controls are excellent despite the occasional camera issue because of the flick targeting, but apart from that it all feels natural and it is only a small matter of time before you are diving and doging all over the landscape, picking up and throwing down guns as you adapt to the situations. The graphics are fine also, with great animation and vibrant designs and colours. On my computer there was the occasional crash to desktop because of a conflict with my video card drivers, but given the constant checkpoints and the rarity of the crashing, it was not really that much of a problem. As for the story, I'm not really a fan of sci-fi, but I must admit I enjoyed the plot to this game. The ending is disappointing given that it leads into a never to be made sequel but the journey along the way there is suitably interesting, with the occasional bit of choice to add some variety. Ultimately, I really must recommend this game. I usually don't much care for games like it, but even I was blown away so at this price you there's no real reason not to give it a try!